Subaqueous tunnel construction.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. S. LAKE. SUBAQUBOUS TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 31, 1902.

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.INVENTUR ATT RNEY 3 0 9 1 2 E I. D P.u\\ E T A P b m A L am 4 3 0 3 7 m N SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1902.

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No. 730,134. PATENTED; JUNE 2, 1903.

s. LAKE. I SUBAQUBOUS TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1902. 'NO iIODBL. 3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

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k "H WITNESSES-5 I H INVENTOR gw ag imll N mung I Ai iORNEY UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON LAKE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

so BAQuEous TUN N EL CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,134, dated June 2, 1903. Application filed May31, 1902, Serial Nb. 109,589. (Ncmodelfi To wZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of theUnited States, residing a Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Con-,

necticut, have invented certain newand use% ful Improvements in Subaqueous-Tunnel Construction, of which the-following is a specification. V 3 This invention relates to the construction of that class of subaqueous tunnels which are formed of a series of tubular sections built upon the land and provided each with teme porary bulkheads to enable them when launched to be floated to the vicinityof the site upon or beneath the water-bed which they are designed to occupy, then sunk to the required position and connected with the adjacent section or sections, and their bulkheads finally removed to establish communication between such adjacent sections.

The invention has for its object not only to improve the construction of this class of tunnels as actually completed for practical use, but to provide means whereby such tunnels may be built with the greatest safety to the workmen employed in preparing the waterbed therefor, placing the several sections in position, and connecting together and establishing communication between them, and whereby the tunnel may be constructed in much less time than has been practicable with designs heretofore proposed.

The invention consists in the various devices hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings and set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elee vation, considerably distorted, for purposes of illustration, showing a completed tunnel under. a waterway, indicating the tunneltubes in externalview and with certain details omitted. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, upon a larger scale, of the middle and one end portion of a central tubular section and the contiguous end portion of the adjacent section in telescopic relation therewith, both sections being provided at the-ends with bulkheads separating their interiors and also with ap paratus employed in the installation of such tunnel-sections in their respective positions; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line A '3 Sin: Fig. 2, indicating the manner of trussing together two parallel tunnelsections. Fig. iis a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1, but upon a smaller scale, showing the middle portion of the tunnel with the temporary standing leveling-pipes. at the ends of each section and the middle upright shaft or inlettube of the central section still remaining in position; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional View, upon a greatly-enlarged scale,

showing the method of construction of the joints between adjacent sections. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the middle and end portions of a compound tunnel-section formed of two parallel tubes united by transverse trusses or frames, the tubes being similar in diameter to those represented in Fig. 1.

p The opposite banks or shores B of the waterway A are provided, as usual, with seawalls C, to and through which the land terminal portions D of the tunnel are extended in the usual manner to connect with the in termediate subaqueous portion, shown herein ,in the connected ,views as consisting of series of. continuously-arranged tubular sections E. Each of these tunnel-sections is formed of a long inner shell consisting of a metallic tube a, encircled by a series of I- angle-rings b, securely attached to the exterior of the same by rivets, and a series of internal L angle-rings c, similarly secured in position withinthe interior in a plane transverse to the axis of the tube. Each section is or may together by rivets similarly to a cylindrical steam-boiler shell, as indicated in Fig. 6, in

which the end portion of the right-hand section is shown terminating in a flaring or conical hub a, into which the adjacent cylindrical end of .the adjoining section (constituting 'be built up of a series of short tubes secured the spigot of the connection) projects and into the annular channel formed between the flared portion a, of the tube a, the end of the tube entering the same and the angle-rings a and b at the opposite ends of such flared portion a.

Each tunnel section is provided with a series of transverse metallic frames or trusses spaced at close intervals'apart, and in case the tunnel is formed oftwo parallel tubes, as indicated in Figs. 3, 5', and 7 of the accompanying drawings, the double tubular sections E, of equal length, are rigidly tied together by such frames or trusses, which latter are shown formed each of a lower or base member f lying beneath and a shorter memberg lying upon the tunnel-tubes and united by the inwardly and upwardly inclined side members It, forming in conjunction therewith a frame of trapezoidal form, and intermediate braces i, all of said truss members being not only riveted together, but secured to the shell a and external angle-rings b by bolts or rivets to where their contact with such parts permits. Said trusses are also tied together by longitudinal channel-beams j, extending parallel with the sections E.

A line of piling F, spaced correspondingly with the trusses above described, is driven into the water-bed preferably immediately beneath the center line or axis of each tunnel-tube, so as to support the weight of the latter securely and thereby insure it against injury by settling when traffic is established withinthe tunnel.

'Each tubular section E is provided near both ends with temporary standing-pipes k, each having a flange at the lower end bolted to a similar flange of the curb l, surrounding an inlet-aperture in the tunneltube having a trap-door m normally closed, but adapted to be opened outwardly upon its hinge against a stop-lug n, so arranged that when released the door will drop by its own weight to its seat and automatically close said opening from the penetration of water in case the tube It should be accidentally wrenched ofi the tunnel-tube by collision therewith of boats or floating matter of any kind upon the surface of the water. Each tube 70 is provided with a vertical series ofhorizontal bars 0, constituting a ladder for the use of workmen employed in building the tunnel. The central tunnel-sections are also provided each with a larger inlet tube or shaft 19, applied and held in place thereon similarly to the end pipes 70, and through which the necessary.

apparatus, supplies, and ballast for carrying on the construction of the tunnel may be lowered into the tunnel-tube beneath by means of a derrick q, arranged upon a common platform 7', supported upon said shafts p and carrying in addition to the derrick the hoisting-engine s, boiler t, and motor-driven dynamo u, deriving its motive power from the boiler 25, such apparatus, with other devices necessary or useful in connection with the building of the tunnel, being designed more particularly for assisting in the work of uniting the several sections as well as performing other operations required in completing the tunnel. A trap-door similar to those already described in connection with the pipes may also be provided for these central shafts, Fig. 7, as well as ladders for ingress and egress of the workmen. Each of the standing pipes or tubes 70 and p is preferably provided with guys 4; for staying the same, as is customary in other structures under like conditions.

Each tunnel-section is provided with the usual road-ballast 2, in which are embedded the sleepers 3, supporting the railway-tracks 4, and which contains also a central drainage trough or gutter 5. Arranged above and at the sides of this roadway are the side conduits 6, adapted to house gas or water mains, signal pipes or wires, 850., such conduits being surmounted by longitudinal platforms or sidewalks 7 for such uses as may be necessary or desirable.

'In addition to the one or more freight-cars 8 with which the central tunnel-tubes would be initially provided for carrying supplies for the building operation each such tube has a work-car 9, containing anelectric motor 10 and connected pump 11, the motor 10 deriving its electric current through a trolleypole 12, making electric contact with a conductor-wire 13, supplied with current from the dynamo or generator'u upon the platform 7.

Each tunnel-section is provided initially with a water-tight bulkhead 14, having flanges detachably secured by suitable bolts to the webs of the end anglerings a and provided near the lower edge with apertures having valves 15. The ends of two sections having been arranged in telescopic relation upon the water-bed, the flexible inlet-pipe 16 of the pump 11 is connected with one of the valves 15, and the flexible discharge-pipe 17 is similarly connected with an outlet-valve 18 in the tunnel-tube E, when the said valves being opened and the pump put in operation the water confined between the opposed bulkheads and the end portions of their respective tunnel-tubes is forced out, the external pressure upon the exposed outer end of the lastinstalled section thereby being permitted to force such adjacent tunnel-tubes together and close the space between the flared portion a of the one and the channel-ring a of the other, into which latter, after the opposed bulkheads have been removed and the adjacent angle-rings a secured together by the bolts 19, the plastic-cement or artificial-stone filling is injected through the valve 20, Fig. 6, by means of a suitable pump, as 11.

In order to a better understanding of the function of the several parts of the tunnelsections which are employed in placing in position the several sections and in establishing communication between. them, I will briefly describe the mode of constructing the tunnel. The middle tube or tubes (forming a simple or compound section, as the case may be) are first built upon the shore of a suitable waterway in a convenient position for launching, including in their component parts not only the shell CL and its external and internal strengthening rings or ribs 1) and 0, respec-. tively, the attached series of transverse trusses, and the nonmetallic filling intermediate said rings, but having also the internal parts, as the road-bed, railway-tracks, conduits, electrical conducting-wires, &c. and the necessary freight and working cars and other necessary apparatus and supplies required in 14, it is now-launched by means of proper ways and towed to a position directly above the trench previously prepared for it and is then so ballasted as to cause it to sink into the trench, the tops of the tubes 70 and p projecting sufficiently above the surface of the water to enable the transit-men to determine the proper adjustment of the section by sighting across them to given objects upon the shores. The dredgings from this middle trench or out having 'been removed to some suitable dumping-ground, the dredging of the adjacent cuts for the adjoining tunnelsections is next effected, the dredgings therefrom being employed to fill in the excavation first made and partially occupied by the central tunnel-section, so as to completely cover the latter, whereby a secure anchorage is provided for the laterally-projecting lower portions of the trapezoidal frames or trusses surrounding the tunnel-tubes as well as for their connecting longitudinal channel-beamsf The adjacent tunnel-sections having in the meantime been built similarly to the central section and then launched and floated to the vicinity of theirrespective excavations, in which are continued the lines of piling begun inthe central trench,such newlybuilt tunnel-sections are similarly sunk into their respective positions and properly lined with thefirst-installed section, also by the use of their standing pipes 70, and are brought 1 into telescopic relation with the extremities of the central tunnel'tubes to which they are fitted. The work-car it then moved to one end of the central section and the water confined between the bulkheads 14 pumped out and the bulkheads removed, each from the interior of its respective tube, after which the' end angle-rings c of the adjacent tubes are The standing tubes and p I bolted together, either temporarily or permanently, and the filling of non-metallic material injected in the annular space between the flared portion a of one tube and the anglering a of the adjoining tube, after the setting 7 or hardening of which filling the valve 20 may be removed and the aperture in the shell a closed in any suitable or convenient manner. The joint at the opposite end of this central tunnel-tube may be similarly formed and sealed, each of the adjacent tubes or sections being forcedhome to effect the metallic closure of the joint by means of the external water-pressure upon the bulkhead at the farther end of the tube from the central tube or section. I The succeeding sections are similarly added shoreward in each direction from the central section, a part of the dredgings from the excavation for each section being utilized for filling the trench, inclosing, and covering over the. previously-laid section, while the road-bed and the tracks of each tunnel-tube are successivelyconnected with those of the adjoining tubes as soon as internal communication is established between them i by the removal of the temporary bulkheads, so that the single working car of each central tube may be used in the formation and sealing of each joint as the several sections are added to the central section.

The leveling-pipes 7c of each tube E may, if desired, be removed immediately after the latter has been adjusted in its place in readiness for use in connection with the succeeding tube or section to be installed, or each section may be built with its individual leveling-pipes, all of which may be retained in position until the completion of the tunnel, as indicated in Fig. 4. In like manner the removable bulkheads 14: may be used successively in different tunnel-sections, as their employment is limited to the closing ofxthe ends of the tubes during the launching and floating of such members to their respective positions and their adjustment in respect of and union with the adjacent tubes of the tunnel. 1

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present improvement offers,

among others, the following important ad vantages over other forms of tunnel construction 1 First, it enables the constructors not only to work in the actual building of the tunnel simultaneously at four different pointsviz. from the center shoreward in bothdirections and from each land-terminal in the direction of the sea-wallbut permits of the construction of the individual tunnel-seetions upon land at the same time as the trenchis being dredged and otherwise prepared forth'e reception of such sections, and, second, it admits of the carrying on' of every part of the work of construction either above the surface of the water or within the tunnel-tubes, and therefore wholly obviates the necessity for employing divers for doing certain portions of the work, as has been required in the construction of subaqueous tunnels previously devised.

In reference to the driving of piles and cutting-them off at the required levels within the trenches I may say that this also maybe effected by the use of the apparatus described and claimed in my pending patent application, Serial No. 64,219, filed June 12, 1901, suitably fitted for the purpose in accordance with my designs.

While I have shown and described specifically herein the characteristic features of my present tunnel construction, it is evident that the construction and arrangement of its various parts may be materially altered without departure from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the specific devices herein described and illustrated.

Although the method of procedure devised by me and set forth in the foregoing description is believed to be new and of great utility in the class of engineering work to which it relates, I have not claimed the same herein, as it forms the subject of my pending application, Serial No. 142,640, filed February 9, Y

It will be observed that,while the mere opening of one of the valves 15 in the bulkheads 14 will permit such portion of the confined water to escape into the interior of the tunnel-tube as will remove the resistance opposed to the pressure upon the extreme end bulkheads, by means of which the adjacent sections are telescoped for closing the junction between them, it is desirable to pump out all of such water in order to form a vacuum between such opposed bulkheads,and thereby add the atmospheric pressure upon such inner bulkheads to the externalwater-pressure upon the outer end bulkheads for closing the joint.

Having thus set forth the invention, what I claim is 1. In combination a central tubular tunnelsection provided with a detachable upright tubular'shaft or inlet-tube surmounted by a working platform, and series of lateral tubular tunnel-sections each provided with a detachable leveling tube or spar, and connections between the adjacent ends of said sections establishing communication between the same while excluding water therefrom.

2. In combination a central tunnelsection I formed of two parallel tubes securely trussed together and provided each with a detachable upright tubular shaft orinlet-tube surmounted by a common working platform provided with hoisting 'and other power apparatus, series of lateral tunnel-sections each formed of parallel tubes securely trussed together and having detachable upright leveling tubes or spars, and connections between the adjacent ends of said tunnel-sections establishing communication between the same while exmetallic cylindrical tube having one end portion flared to receive the adjacent cylindrical end of the next section, and series of trans versely-disposed angle-rings within and without said sections with a filling of artificial stone or cement in the intervening spaces between said angle-rings.

4t. A subaqueous tunnel composed of series of parallel metallic tubes united by series of transversely-disposed frames or trusses, and two parallel lines of piling driven into the water-bed and spaced longitudinally of the tunnel correspondingly with said trusses resting thereon.

5. A subaqueous tunnel composed of series of parallel metallic tubes united by series of transversely-disposed frames or trusses, and parallel lines of piling driven into the waterbed directly beneath the centers of said tunnel-tubes and spaced correspondingly with said frames or trusses resting thereon.

6. In combination, a series of tubular tunnel-sections having the adjacent end portions fitted together and provided each with a removable water-tight bulkhead, and means applied to one of said bulkheads whereby the water may be drawn from the space between the adjacent bulkheads preparatory to their removal from said sections.

7. In combination a series of tubular tunnel-sections provided in the adjacent end portions with telescopic extremities and with removable bulkheads, and means applied to said bulkheads and the adjacent walls of the tubes whereby the water may be drawn off from the space between adjacent bulkheads and ejected from said sections preparatory to the removal of said bulkheads to open communication between said sections.

8. In combination a series of tubular tunnel-sections having their adjacent end portions fitted together in a close joint, each said section being temporarily closed by means of removable bulkheads, one of each pair of opposed bulkheads being provided with a valved discharge-aperture, and means adapted to be connected with said aperture for drawing off the water from the space intermediate said bulkheads and ejecting it from said sections preparatory to the removal of said bulkheads.

9. In combination a series of metallic tubular tunnel-sections having their adjacent end portions fitted together in a close joint, each being closed by means of a removable bulkhead of which one is provided with a valved discharge-aperture, a pump contained by one of said tunnel-sections having the said apretured bulkhead, and pipe connections between said pump and the discharge-aperture of said bulkhead and between said pump and the exterior of the tunnel-section.

10. In combination a series of tubular tunnel-sections having their adjacent end portions fitted together in a close joint, each said section being temporarily closed by means of removable bulkheads, one of each pair of opposed bulkheads being provided with a valved discharge-aperture, a car' in one of saidtunnel-sections having said apertured bulkhead and carrying a pumpand means for actuatterior of the tunnel-section.

11; In combinationa seriesof tubular tunnel-sections having their adjacent end por tions fitted together in a close joint, eaclr said section being temporarily closed by means of removable bulkheads, one of each pair of opposed bulkheads being provided with a valved discharge-aperture, railway-tracks and electrical'conductors disposed longitudinally of each tunnel-section,said conductor being connected with an electric-current generator, a car mounted upon the tracks of one of said sections having said apertured bulkhead and carrying a pump and an electric motor coupled thereto for actuating it, an electrical connection between said motor and the electrical conductor of said section, and flexible pipe connections between said pump and the discharge-aperture of said bulkhead and between said pump and the exterior of the tunnel-section.

12. A subaqueous tunnel composed of a series of metallic tubes having their adjacent ends in telescopic relation and formed with an intermediate annular channel, and a filling of plastic material in said channel.

13. A snbaqueous tunnel composed of a series of metallic tubes having their adjacent ends in telescopic relation and formed with an intermediate annular channel, and a filling of adhesive plastic waterproof material in said channel.

14. A subaqueous tunnel composed of a series of metallic tubes of which the adjacent ends are formed, respectively, cylindrical and conical and disposed in telescopic relation, and a filling of cement or artificial stone in the annular space intermediate the adjacent ends of said tubes.

15. A subaqueous tunnel composed of a series of cylindrical metallic tubes of which one is provided near the ends with an external angle-ring and the contiguous end of the adjacent tube is flared to receive the end of said first-named tube, said tubes being disposed in telescopic relation with the flared end portion of the one in contact with the external angle-ring of the other, and a filling of cement or artificial stone in the annular space intermediate the contiguous ends of of artificial stone in the annular space intermediate the adjacent ends of said tubes.

, 17. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section provided intermediate its ends with a detachable shaft or inlet-tube surmounted by a working platform. h

18. A tubular subaqueous' tunnel-section comprising two or more metallic tubes rigidly trussed together, the same being provided each with a detachable upright shaft or inlettube surmounted by and supportingxa common working platform provided with hoisting and other power apparatus.

19. A subaqueous' tunnel-section uconsisting of a metallic tube having internal and external series of transversely-disposed angle-rings, with fillings of artificial stone or cement in the spaces included between said angle-rings by the flanges of which they are locked in position.

20. A subaqueous tunnel-section consisting of two or more metallic tubes rigidly trussed together, series of external anglerings embracing said tubes and secured to the contiguous truss members, series of transversely-disposed internal angle-rings, and fillings of artificial stone or cement intermediate the rings of each said series of angler ngs.

21 A subaqueous tunnel-section consisting of two or more parallel metallic tubes, and a series of transverse trusses embracing the same and binding them together, said trusses extending laterally beyond said tubes at their, lower edges.

22. A subaqueoustunnelsection consisting of two or more parallel metallic tubes, and a series of transverse trusses of trapezoidal form embracing and bindingthe same together, the longer edges of said trusses being disposed beneath said tunnel-tubes.

23. A subaqueous tunnel-section comprising a tube embraced by a series of transverse trusses of trapezoidal form.

24. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section provided intermediate its ends with adetachable upright tube or shaft, and an upwardly or outwardly opening door at the baseof said tube or shaft. i

25. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section provided with a detachable upright tube or shaft, an upwardly or outwardly opening door having a pivot at one side of the base of said upright tube, and a stop within said lastnamed tube for preventing the opening of said door farther than the vertical plane embracin g said pivot. 1

26. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section provided with a detachable upright tube or shaft, and an upwardly or outwardly opening door at the base of said upright tube and adapted to close automatically so as to maintain the base of said upright tube normally closed from communication with the tunneltube to which the latter is.applied.

27. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section provided with a detachable central upright shaft or inlet-tube surmounted by a working platform,fand a detachable upright leveling eat,

tube or tubes at one or both'ends of said firstwithout said sections with a filling of artificial named tube. stone or cement in the intervening spaces be- 28. A tubular subaqueous tunnel-section tween said angle-rings. provided at the opposite ends with removable In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 5 water-tight bulkheads, one or both of which name to this specification, in the presence of is provided with a valved aperture. two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of 29. A subaqueous tunnel composed of a May, 1902.

series of sections each formed of a metallic SIMON LAKE. cylindrical tube having the ends fitted to Witnesses to those of the adjacent sections, and series of L. B. MILLER,

transversely-disposed angle-rings within and HENRY J. MILLER. 

